Automatic developer for photographic paper in sheets.



July 28, 1931. H. GoDEFRoY 1,816,646

AUTOMATIC DEVELOPER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER IN SHEETS Filed Dec. 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l /ITrOR/VEY July 28, 1931. GODEFROY 1,816,646

AUTOMATIC DEVELOPER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER IN SHEETS Filed Deo. 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N l/E/V TOR Hen/v' ode/roy by l,

A foy/wy Patented July 28, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRI GODEFROY, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNCR T SOCIT'GODEFROY FRERES, 0F

- PARIS, FRANCE AUTOMATIC DEVELOPER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER IN SHEETS Application led December 27, 1929, SerialI No. 416,851, and in France February 1, 1929.

The invention has for its'object an apparatus to effect the automatic development of photographic papers in sheets.- These pass into a developlng bath in which they stop for a period which may be regulated by altering the lengthy of the path traversed by the negatives in the bath.

The principal characteristics of the apparatus forming the object of the invention are the following:

1st. The passage of the proofs or exposures in the developing bath between two endless linen bands rotating over rollers.

2nd. The regulation of the length of the path in the developing bath by the shifting of a roller on which the conveying band rolls. This action necessitates the displacement of two rollers the axes of which are connected and are parallel. Over the rst roller pass the two super-posed bands, while the principal band only passes over the second. The length of the path may thus be modified without the band ceasing to be submitted to the normal tension.

3rd. The drying of the proofs by a roller acting at the outlet of the developing bath and which at the same time carries along the sheet of paper.

4th. An inclined plane on which the proofs slide whilst a thin layer of water washes them and stops the development.

5th. The entrainment on a moving path of the proofs which are precipitated into the xing bath. p

6th. The arrangement for guiding the bands by two auxiliary parallel rollers capahle of inclining in one direction or the other according as the band comes into Contact with one or the other of the collars situated at each extremity of the principal roller.

A method of carrying out the arrangement forming the object of the invention will be described as an exampler- It is, of course, understood that the shapes and the material may vary.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of the automatic developer seen in elevation.

Figure 2 shows an elevation of the arrangement for guiding the bands.

Figure 3 is a plan view of this same arrangement.

In Figure 1 is shown the frame of the apparatus comprising four uprights 1 connected by cross pieces 2 and supporting two flat plates 3 and 4. The plate 3 supports the developing bath 5 and on the plate 4 is situated the fixing bath 6.

The entrainment of the proofs is effected by a main linen .band 7 and by a covering band 8 also of linen. These two endless bands run over the whole of the `rollers and are in contact one with the other a certain distance in order to entrain the proofs into the developing bath and keep them there for the necessary time.

The proofs are introduced between the two bands which. run each on one of the rollers 9 and 10. The roller 9 is rotated by the motor, not shown, on the drawings, and which ensures the movement of the band 7 at a constant speed. The roller 10 and the band 8 running thereon are carried along by adhesion so that the two Vbands which embrace the sheet of paper have the same speed.

After its introduction between the two bands, the sheet of paper is immersed in the developing bath and is carried by the bands moistened in the bath which drive away all the bubbles of air. The `proof thus makes a rst straight passage 11 up to the roller 122..'I

and then comes back on the opposite direction following another straight path 13 up to a roller 14 which causes it to take a 4further change of direction. The proor` has lnow left the bath and in the course of the straight passage 15 the covering band 8 separates from the principal band 7. The sheet ofpaper which continues its journey on the band 7 is thus uncovered so permittingthe operator to follow the `process of development and to regulate the period of immersion as will be later described.

When the proof hascompleted the path 15, it runs under theroller 16- which dries it, thus removlng a portion ofthe developing bath carried therewith, and so reducing to a minimum losses from the bath. The sheet of paper is then carried by the roller 17 to which a rotating movement is imparted and around which four rollers 18 ensure the guiding of the sheet. At its exit the proof is separated from the roller 17 by a row of needles 19, and falls on to the inclined plane 20 at the top of which a tube perforated with a row of holes permits a thin layer of water to flow down. The proof is'thus washed in passing, which stops the development, and it then arrives at the bottom of the inclined plane. Here, it is again carried by a movable part 21 constituted by a series of cords stretched between the grooves of the rollers 22 and 23, one of which is set in motion by the machine.

The water which runs down the inclined plane is received in a funnel 24 and is carried away. On reaching the end of the moving path 21, the proof falls into the receptacle 6 which contains the fixing bath. This bath should be stirred to ensure a regular action on all the proofs.

To regulate the-duration of the immersion in the developing bath, the operator alters the speed of the motor by means of a rheostat so that the duration of immersion may be greater than that desired, were the path carried out in the bath the maximum. Theoperator, on the other hand, has at his disposal a crank or other suitable control device acting on a roller 25 carrying a toothed wheel 26 rolling on a rack 27. This roller carries the covering band 8 whi-ch, on the other hand, is guided by two rollers 28 and 29.

The roller 25 in shifting carries with it the roller 12 through the intermediation of the endless running covering band. The lengths of the straight path-s 11 and 13 are thus modified and as these paths are common to the two bands the variation must be compensated as regards the principal band 7. For this purpose'the axis of the roller 12 is connected to the axis of the roller 30 on which runs the principal band 7. The modifications of the lengths of the paths 11 and 13 are thus compensated by those of the portions of the principal band 7 joining the rollers 30 to the rollers 31 and 32 with fixed axes on which the said band also runs.

' .In order to automatically and securely 33 are. situated two collars 36 and 37 the revolutions' of which are independent from those of the roller and which can only be carried round ifA the band comesin contact with them. Each of these collars carries a toothed pinion transmitting its rotating movement to a spindle 38. l

Forthe first collar 36 the entrainment is effected directly by a pinion 39, whilst for the other collar 37 an intermediate pinion 40 is provided which engages with the pinion 41. According as the band comes into contact with one or the other of the collars will the rotation of this spindle 38 take place in one direction or the other. At the end of this spindle is provided a worm 42 which engages with the wheel 43 in the centre of which a thread screws on to a rod 44 which moves the unit constituted by the two rollers 34 and 35 pivoting about the axis 45. The action will. be easily understood. If the band shifts in one direction and comes into contact with one of the collars, the two rollers 34 and 35 incline in the direction proper to impart to the band a displacement which brings it towards the other side. After a few movements of the same kind of a decreasing amplitude the band takes up a central position. 1n recapitulation, the invention has for 1ts obJect anautomatic apparatus ensuring the development of photographic papers in sheets and permitting the regulation of the period of action of the developing bath.

Claims 1. In an automatic developing device for photographic paper in sheets, comprising two endless superimposed bands, adapted to carry the proof between them thrugh the developing bath, the combination with one of said bands; of a guiding device for said band, comprising a pair of parallel rollers,

reaching across the width of said band and adapted to guide it with a slight friction between them, a support, on which said rollers are journalled in fixed mutual relation, said support being adapted to swing around a vertical fulcrum point on one end of the rollers with Aa limited radial movement on the other, two loosely mounted separate friction rolls, adapted to be rotated by the rim of the band when it eventually exceeds its normal course on either side of the machine, a spindle, journalled parallel-to the above s'aid rollers, transmission means, operatively connected with said friction rolls and adapted to impart to the spindle clockl wise and counterclockwise rotation respectively, as the band may exceed its normal course on one side or the other, and means, operatively connected with the spindle and the aforesaid roller support, and adapted to impart a swinging movement to the same, as specified above, thus bringingY the course of the band, guided bythe rollers, back to its normal course.

2. In an automatic developing device for photographic paper in sheets, comprising two endless superimposed bands,' one adapted to serve as carrier and to be mechanically driven, the other adapted to serve as cover and to be driven by frlctional con# tact with the first one, thus effecting the passage of the proof between them through the developing bath, the combination with a main roller, formin a part'of said device and carrying said mec anicall driven band; of a guiding device for said and, comprising two auxiliary rollers in parallel juxtaposition and journalled in cross-bars, one of which is adapted to swivel -around an intermediate vertical fulcrum between the two rollers, while the other has a limited rangel to swing vthe rollers horizontally around said fulcrum, both rollers being so disposed that they guide the mechanically driven band with a slight tension between them, two collars, loosely mounted on the two protruding shaft ends of the main roller respectively and adapted to be driven by contact with said band whenever it exceeds. the width of the main roller by deviating from its straight course to either end, a spindle, rotatably located in parallel juxtaposition to the Amain roller, a gear train, provided on one end of said roller, xedly attached to the collar and adapted to impart the eventual rotary motion of said collar to the spindle in the same sense, a

second gear train, rovided on the other end of said roller, edly attached to the second collar and adapted to impart its eventual rotary motion to the spindle in the reverse sense, a worm transmission drive, 'consisting of a worm {ixedly attached to one end of said spindle and a worm wheel, independently supported and in mesh with it, said wheel being rovided with a hollow hub, spirally threa ed inside, and a con? necting rod, threaded on one end to mesh with the threaded inside of said hub, ada ted to be propagated back and forth b t e rotation of said Worm-driven Wheel, an pivotally connected on the other end to the lfree-swinging cross-bar of the aforesaid auxiliary rollers, thus imparting an equalizing sidewise movement to the axes of said rollers, adapted to bring the course of the mechanical y driven band back to the center of the machine.

The foregoing speciicatonof my automatic developer for tphotographic paper in shgets, signed by me 's 13 day of December 1 9.

HENRI. GODEFROY. 

